February 17-19, 2020 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/17/2020
The revered Joseph Manton along with a number of others, including James Purdey, were searching for an easy way to use a fulminating mixture to ignite the powder charge of a gun or rifle during the transition time of mid 1810-1820. Manton tried a number of ways, the most successful being his tubelock of which a fairly large number of guns were made around 1818-1820, before the now familiar percussion nipple came into use. It appears that the patch lock devised by Manton, although made around 1816, was very close to this later system. Examples of which are very rare, most all converted to normal percussion. It appears that this gun was originally made as a patch lock with later percussion conversion. It is interesting to note that there are no serial numbers present anywhere on the gun, and its likely period of manufacture corresponds with one of Joseph Manton's many legal disputes. It is possible that this gun was sold unnumbered simply to raise ready cash. It has 31 - 1/2" twist barrels engraved "Joseph Manton" on broad elevated rib. An area in front of this engraved name has been cleaned and re-browned to remove additional Manton information normally present. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with London black powder proofs, no barrel forgers mark is present. Unnumbered greenheart ramrod with horn tip and brass tail is held by two plain pipes. Patent breeches with vented platinum blow-outs and early style percussion nipples have top area cut away at an angle, typical for known patch lock guns. Breech iron is engraved with acanthus and is cut away at sides with no fences. Fences are integral with lockplates in early style, also as found on patch lock guns. Flat lockplates with truncated tails are fitted with very heavy bodied slightly swept hammers with removable noses in earliest percussion style. Locks and hammers are engraved with coiling sea monsters and well cut open scroll. "Joseph Manton" "London" is on each lockplate. Other furniture is of iron. Trigger plate is filed and engraved with traditional pineapple motif, matching thimble. Trigger guard is engraved with more sea monsters on bow, and blued steel buttplate also has another monster and scroll along extended top tang. Stock of relatively plain, but dense, European walnut has widely spaced flat top point pattern checkering at grip. A vacant silver rectangle is at top grip. Stock attaches to barrels with captive side nail through plain oval silver escutcheons. Gun is housed in vintage Manton mahogany case with pivoting hook closure and typical ivory lined teardrop key hole. Brass folding D-ring handle on top has central medallion engraved with crest of what appears to be Fleming clan, with the motto "Let the Deed Shew" on belt, under a goats head. Initials "RSF" are in center within belt. Interior is lined in green cloth, and Joseph Manton, 11 Hanover Square label is in lid. Gun fits partitions well, but not perfectly. Case is arranged with removable lock platform in early style. Accessories include a brass bodied powder measure marked "PATENT", and an early type shot pouch with removable scoop. Area under lock platform contains an old wad punch and some percussion caps. CONDITION: Fine. Barrels retain 70-80% of what appears to be original brown, with aforementioned touch up. Locks and breech iron retain a considerable amount, perhaps as much as 50% original case hardening color. Stock appears to be refinished, but possibly just has considerable added oil, and retains most of that finish with wood considerably below buttplate (possible shrinkage). Trigger guard and buttplate retain most of what is possibly their original blue. Bores are very fine. Locks are excellent, flash shields have several small cracks in them from use.. Case appears to have been refinished many years ago, with many subsequent scrapes and scratches, with repaired cracks in lid. Interior cloth is good with some rubs and repairs. Label is good with considerable soiling and foxing. All in all an interesting early Manton. MGM57.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .070 (R) .065
Internal Bore Diameter
(BOTH) .670